I don't have a dog in this fight, but...

[BigV]

Cain Reassessing

Updated 12:14 p.m. Eastern Time

The Herman Cain campaign is "reassessing" its strategy in the wake of a woman's claim that she and Cain had engaged in a 13-year extramarital relationship, a senior staffer to the campaign told CBS News.

The staffer made the statement following reports that Cain told supporters Tuesday morning that he is reassessing whether to remain in the Republican presidential race.

On a five-minute conference call, Cain told his senior staff that he would make a decision on staying in the race "over the next several days," according to National Review.

And the Des Moines Register reports that Cain said on the call that he needs to decide if the affair allegation creates "too much of a cloud" for him to continue his run.

"If a decision is made, different than we should plow ahead, you all will be the first to know," Cain reportedly said on the 90-person conference call.

Perhaps it was the smell of fear that brought out the predators, but now it seems Cain feels there's actual blood in the water. Like classicman, I don't really think that how he conducts his personal affairs is important to his quality as a leader. I *DO* think how he responds to such questions is telling and Cain's mishandled this from the outset.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by BigV

I don't really think that how he conducts his personal affairs is important to his quality as a leader. I *DO* think how he responds to such questions is telling

Lies are not OK. He sleeps around? I don't care. He lies about sleeping around? I do care.

[Lamplighter]

My take on Cain's situation is that from the first allegation,
he decided (on PR advice ?) to adopt a campaign strategy of:
"Deny, Deny, Deny..."

Now, he is stuck with it, no matter what the truth may be.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

"Deny, Deny, Deny..."

See, he got it wrong.

step one: feign ignorance
step two: deny
step three: counter accuse


Example:

"What are you talking about? I didn't do that. I think YOU did it."

Leaves them flustered, and you can move forward.

"I didn't do that. I didn't do that. I didn't do that." Sounds like you're protesting too much.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by glatt

Lies are not OK. He sleeps around? I don't care. He lies about sleeping around? I do care.

So I guess you still feel the same about Bill Clinton?

[glatt]

Yes. His lies bothered me too. Although Clinton did eventually come clean after he couldn't deny it any more, and he apologized to the country.

Cain is still telling lies that nobody believes. He's dug himself into a hole with his lies and can't find a graceful way out. His mistake was thinking that because his lies had always worked in the past, they would continue to work once he jumped onto the national stage.

When will politicians realize that if they have a lot to hide, it's going to come out?

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by glatt

Yes. His lies bothered me too. Although Clinton did eventually come clean after he couldn't deny it any more, and he apologized to the country.

So you are willing to give Cain the same break?

Cain is still telling lies that nobody believes.

How do you know he is lying? Isn't it his word against the accusers? As far as I know there is only one documented case where some monetary settlement was reached, the details of which are still sketchy. All of the other women have some major baggage in their past, so you have to question the motivation to come out now.